Headaches

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Headaches

Headaches

Headaches are a very common condition that most people will experience many times during their lives. Headaches can be more complicated than most people realize. Different kinds can have their own set of symptoms, happen for unique reasons, and need different treatments. A headache can affect any part of the head, and pain may be present in one or several locations. Headaches can cause various types of pain, and classifying the pain can help a doctor reach a diagnosis.

There are more than 150 types of headache. They fall into two main categories: primary and secondary headaches.

Primary headaches

Primary headaches are those that aren’t due to another medical condition. The category includes:
Cluster headaches
Migraine
New daily persistent headaches (NDPH)
Tension headaches

Secondary headaches

Secondary headaches are related to another medical condition, such as:
Disease of blood vessels in the brain
Head injury
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Infection
Medication overuse
Sinus congestion
Trauma
Tumor

Causes

  • Alcohol, particularly red wine
  • Certain foods, such as processed meats that contain nitrates
  • Changes in sleep or lack of sleep
  • Poor posture
  • Skipped meals
  • Stress
  • Acute sinusitis (nasal and sinus infection)
  • Arterial tears (carotid or vertebral dissections)
  • Blood clot (venous thrombosis) within the brain — separate from stroke
  • Brain aneurysm
  • Brain AVM (arteriovenous malformation)
  • Brain tumor
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Chiari malformation (structural problem at the base of your skull)
  • Concussion
  • Coronavirus disease 2019
  • Dehydration
  • Dental problems
  • Ear infection (middle ear)
  • Encephalitis (brain inflammation)
  • Giant cell arteritis (inflammation of the lining of the arteries)
  • Glaucoma (acute angle closure glaucoma)
  • Hangovers
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Influenza (flu) and other febrile (fever) illnesses
  • Intracranial hematoma
  • Medications to treat other disorders
  • Meningitis
  • Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
  • Overuse of pain medication
  • Panic attacks and panic disorder
  • Persistent post-concussive symptoms (Post-concussion syndrome)
  • Pressure from tight headgear, such as a helmet or goggles
  • Pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension)
  • Stroke
  • Toxoplasmosis
  • Trigeminal neuralgia (as well as other neuralgias, all involving irritation of certain nerves connecting the face and brain)

Symptoms

  • Tenderness of the face, head, neck, and shoulders
  • A feeling of pressure behind the eyes
  • Sensitivity to light and sound
  • Watering eyes
  • Swollen eyelid
  • Dull, throbbing ache around the eyes, cheeks, and forehead
  • Pain may worsen with movement or straining and can sometimes spread to the teeth and jaw
  • A blocked or a runny nose
  • Sensitivity to light and sound
  • Restlessness or agitation
  • Facial pressure or pain
  • Reduced sense of smell
  • Nasal discharge
  • A blocked nose
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Ear pain
  • Bad breath
  • Cough
  • Dental pain
  • A general feeling of being unwell

Here at Nova Health Physiotherapy Clinic, we will evaluate the causes of your pain and dysfunction, develop an individually tailored treatment plan and provide one-on-one treatment to get you to pain free life.

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